Starting from today, Kadyrov said, the amnesty for militants who turn themselves in has been canceled and there will be “no more flirting” with those still hiding.

“They have been given numerous chances to return to peaceful life. Those who wanted to, have already done this. And if the remaining criminals want to kill somebody, we will help them to die as well,” Kadyrov said. “A person whose aim is to kill innocent people must be destroyed,” he added.

The operation in Chechnya began two days after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the entrance to the Chechen Interior Ministry in the capital Grozny, killing two policemen and one civilian.

Simultaneously, in neighboring Dagestan, the Federal Security Service has announced a new counter-terrorism initiative, which is after local police became involved in an operation against a gang of militants that resulted in the death of four suspects.

The battle, which took place in a forest close to the republic's capital, began on Wednesday. Officials say the targeted gang was planning to carry out terrorist attacks in the region. One security officer was killed during the operation.

The surge in violence has shaken region one month after a federal counter-terrorism operation was concluded in Checnhya.